Suicide Shouldn't Be Ignored

And discussion of such shouldn't be taboo. I don't know how long this article is going to be accessible, but here it is.

Deadly taboo: Youth suicide an epidemic that many in Utah prefer to ignore

Quotes:

Through dozens of interviews with young people, parents, doctors, counselors and state officials increasingly concerned about the problem, reporters concluded several important points about teen suicide in Utah:

• Insurance companies and lawmakers are failing our young people in the context of this problem. Although treatment and medication for mental health concerns associated with suicide have improved, experts say insurance company restrictions have a stranglehold on preventive measures.
• Ninety percent of young people who complete suicide have some form of major psychiatric disorder, although the majority are not taking medication at the time they take their lives.
• Utah does not have a suicide prevention advocacy network or a crisis center, which would be a critical clearinghouse for worried adults and teenagers.
• Local treatment beds for young people who are suicidal have decreased. And there is little, if any, public funding for young people up until the point of absolute crisis.

The Utah Youth Suicide Study, the state's most careful analysis of this issue, provides the best profile of those young people who "complete" suicide.

• 89 percent were male.
• 58 percent used firearms.
• 93 percent were Caucasian.
• 74 percent killed themselves at home.
• 63 percent had contact with the criminal justice system, and half of those had referrals for substance use, abuse or possession.
• Only 3 percent were using psychotropic medications when they died.
• Only 2 percent were active in public mental health treatment.

The study made clear the role society's attitude plays in this problem and concluded those who died faced the following barriers for adequate mental health care:

• The belief that nothing could help.
  
• The belief that seeking help is a sign of weakness or failure.
  
• The reluctance to admit to having mental health problems.
  
• The denial of problems.
  
• The embarrassment about seeking help.

The study concluded, "It is suggested that the stigma of mental illness is a considerable barrier to mental health treatment."

"We have got to do away with this stigma," says Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, whose daughter has struggled with suicidal thoughts. "We need to recognize it as a problem and address it."

"We have this 'All is well in Zion' kind of thing going here," Shurtleff said.

"We'd rather not talk about it at all or maybe to go talk to the bishop about it," he said. "If there really is a mental health issue you need help. It doesn't work to talk to the youth leaders or ecclesiastic leaders."